Our week has been anything but uneventful. Kevin received his port on Tuesday. It was pure torture for him to get the IV before the procedure. We thought we had the plan down- tell the nurses the left arm. They were great and listened, but now the veins in his left arm blew. I was thankful the nurse only tried twice  and got another nurse. This nurse felt so bad and was so gentle. ( as she could). Kevin wasn't ready for the pain afterwards because it was such a simple procedure. We welcomed his little buddy to the right side of his chest and explained that his left side had one already and did a great job. We expect the right side port to surpass the left and be a superhero. After enduring his port placement on Tuesday, he went in for an ultra sound and needle biopsy of lymph nodes in his cervical of his neck on the left side. After the ultrasound, they decided to do a core biopsy.  We instantly had a worry feeling since it changed to that. They took 3 pieces out to biopsy. Then on Friday, Kevin was to begin chemo. Because of the traffic you either get to places pretty early or late. We got there 30 minutes early and waited in the car. While waiting, the oncology nurse called and told us Kevin wouldn't be receiving his treatment today! Do what-? She said the doctor needed to talk to us about the biopsies. We had a video visit yesterday and it was confirmed the cancer has moved to his lymph nodes in his cervical. This makes his cancer a Stage 4 and inoperable. It is considered metastasized and his treatment plan has changed.  They don't know all the areas it has spread to, he will have a PET scan in June. They are not rushing to do a PET because it isn't changing his treatment. We took this news very hard and it has certainly shifted our thinking into places that I don't want to imagine. So I am not, at this point. We are focused on a cure and know God will continue to pave a path. 

So Plan B....he will get the original chemo, for cancer folks- it's 5FU. This will be mixed with some type of booster and then he will be treated with immunetherapy every 3rd cycle. One of the things that makes his cancer aggressive is the cell make up with HER2, only a very low percentage of people have this type of gastric cancer. It is common in breast cancer. The therapies they are using have been successful with breast cancer with HER2 makeup. 

How is Kevin? He has his big boy pants on and is ready to tackle it. He is physically tired and stomach gets full very fast. It makes it very uncomfortable. However, he seems to have a spark of energy when we have weeds in the yard or grass is too tall. He had lots of soreness from this port and uncomfortable feeling from his lymph nodes, but our yard got cut on Thursday. 

Prayer requests continue to be for a fighting spirit, blue-cross blue shield sees that his cancer is a disability and will provide his short term disability payment- seriously!, that he begins treatment this week. financials, and little side effects. I am not doing summer school now due to the fact- I just need to be home, Kevin needs me.

God winks- my school! I can't tell you how many ways we have been blessed. I know if I list it all, I will miss something. I am able to take intermediate leave when needed and donation of days. This is a huge gift. I have had so many people bring by gifts and I won $500 from a district giveaway. I have the best students, parents, substitute , coworkers, principal and team. I continue to praise God for his hand to continue to watch over us. Another blessing-  Kevin is able to shift his focus on the yard. It has helped his spirits so much.  

Something I do with my first graders- we take a noun and make a list with sight words- can, is, has. I decided to do this with cancer.

The noun is Cancer.

Cancer can be cruel, sneaky and cured.

Cancer is hurtful, laughable and curable.

Cancer has my husband, my family and a cure.